Archpriest Andrei Lorgus is defrocked

On February 20, 2026, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' signed a decree deposing Archpriest Andrei Lorgus. The church court of the Moscow diocese made a corresponding decision on December 23, 2025.

The priest’s actions were seen as a violation of a number of Apostolic rules and the rules of the Ecumenical Councils, but neither the decree of the patriarch nor the court decision spells out exactly how these rules were violated.

Archpriest Andrei Lorgus is a priest, psychologist, rector of the Institute of Christian Psychology, publicist, author of books on Christian psychology. In 2018 he was assigned to the staff, in 2019 he moved to Bulgaria. In 2022, he signed a letter condemning Russia’s military actions on the territory of Ukraine.

Sources

• Decree No. U-02/23 of February 20, 2026 // Archpriest Andrei Lorgus // Moscow (city) diocese, official website. 2026. February 25.
• Anti-war archpriest Andrei Lorgus is deprived of his holy orders // Telegram channel “Christians against war!” 2026. February 25.